Tanning and leaching apparatus.



No. 7V3,542. Patented Nov. H, |902.

C. M. WALTER.

TANNING AND lLEACHING APPARATUS.

(Application med sept. 1e, 1902.1 x (No Modei.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I,

Patented Nov. Il, |902.

c. M'. WALTER.

TANNINYG AND LEACHING APPARATUS.

(Application led Sept. 16, 1902.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(N0 Nudel.)

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CHARLES IWI. INALTER, OE CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE INTER- NATIONAL LEATHER COMPANY OE SOUTH DAKOTA.

TANNENG AND LEACHNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters iatent No. 713,542, dated November 11, 1902.

Application filed September 16, 1902. Serial No. 128,617. (No model.)

To all 'whom z'f may con/cern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. WALTER, of Cincinnati, in the county of I'Iamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leaching and Tanning Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in leaching and tanning apparatus, and more particularly to a machine of the drum type, one object of the invention being to provide a machine by means of which the process of leaching bark and that of rapidly tanning hides can be accomplished without any alteration in the structure of any of the mechanical features constituting the machine.

A further object is to construct the apparatus in such manner as to avoid the use of concentrated liquor, such as heretofore employed in rapid tanning, can be avoided.

A further object is to so construct the machine that during the process of tanning the hides will be prevented from Contact with the more concentrated portion of the liquor present with the sediment at the bottom of the vat.

A further and important object of my present invention is to obtain the best results in the leaching of all kinds of bark, woodpulp, and, in fact, any vegetable tanning material to save space and to produce an apparatus which after the leaching process shall have been concluded can be used to tan hides in the liquor obtained from the tanning material.

A further object is to produce an apparatus for the purposes stated which shall be simple in construction, easy to operate and control, and which shall in all respects effectually perform all the functions for which it is designed.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts,as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Tn the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a sectional view of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view with the hoods broken away of two similar apparatus, showing the driving mechanism, the inner drum of one of said apparatus being removed the an aratus said revoluble arts com rising an inner closed drum 4 and an outer open drum or frame 5. A description in detail of the construction and arrangement of these parts will nowfollow.

The journals orgudgeons 3, above referred to, are secured to or provided with disks 6, and to each of these disks radiating arms 7 (preferably eight in number) are rigidly secured. To the outer extremities of each series of radiating arms a rim 8 is secured, and the two rims S are connected by a series of (preferably eight) slats 9, the ends of said slats being set into recesses in the rims and secured in place in anysuitable manner. To the rims S of the open drum or frame thus formed a number of hooks l0 are secured, three hooks being preferably employed on each rim between each pair of radiating arms and one coincident with each of said Aarms for the attachment of hides, as hereinafter more fully explained.

At points about a foot and a half (more or less, according to the size of the apparatus) from the rims S smaller inner rims ll are secured to each series of arms 7, and these two series of inner rims are connected by a series of staves l2, the ends of which are set into recesses in the respective inner rims l1 and secured in place by any suitable means. I prefer in the inner drum thus formed to employ a greater number of staves than in the outer open drum and to so arrange said staves that half of them will be coincident with the arms 7 and the other half alternate with these, the framework of the inner drum thus comprising the radiating arms, two rims, and sixteen staves, and each of these staves is provided with a series of inwardly-projecting pins 13. At the ends of the inner drum segments of fine-mesh wire-gauze 14c close the spaces between the arms 7. W'ooden strips IOO l5 are bent around the said inner drum and secured to the staves thereof, and to said wooden strips fine-mesh wire-gauze is secured to give to the inner drum a perforated peripheral Wall, and in this peripheral wall a door 16 is provided to permit ready access to the interior of the drum.

One of the journals or gudgeons of the revoluble frames is extended beyond the outer wall of the vat or is made double and secured to a large driving-gear 17. The body of -this gear may be conveniently made of wood and the periphery composed of a series of metallic toothed segments. Motion is imparted to the gear 17 by means of a pinion 18, secured to a driving-shaft 19. The shaft 19 may be conveniently mounted in bearings suitably located on a series of vats, as shown in Fig. 2, and the said shaft is provided with fast and loose pulleys 2O 21 for the accommodation of a driving-belt from any convenient source of power. When a number of apparatus are used in series, as is usually the case, a driving-gear 17 is placed between each two vats and connected therewith, as shown in Fig. 2. By the employment of driving mechanism such as above described great leverage for propelling the arms is obtained.

Each vat is provided at a point approximately eighteen inches above its bottom with a false perforated bottom 22, and with the space between the two bottoms an outletduct 23 communicates, said outlet-duct being normally closed by means of a plug 24. A steam-pipe 25 for heating the contents of the vat is also located under the perforated false bottom and provided with valved inlet and outlet pipes 26 and 27.

The vat is provided with a hood 28, which incloses the revoluble drums, which project some distance above the top of the vat. Said hood is provided at its ends with doors 29. This hood and its doors constitute important features of my invention, for by their use I am enabled to completely inclose the contents of the vat, and thus cause the same to be quickly heated, and by opening the doors more or less the temperature of the contents of the vat can be easily and accurately regulated and controlled.

In operating the apparatus to leach bark the vat is supplied with water, preferably at a temperature of about Fahrenheit, until the level of the wateris approximately twenty inches (more or less) from the center of the drums, when an outer drum having a diameterofaboutnineandone-half feetand aninner drum having a diameter of eight feet are used. The inner drum is then filled with ground bark to within about two feet of the top, and then after the door in the inner drum shall have been closed the drums will be set in motion by means of the gearing hereinbefore described. The doors in the hood are also closed. After the drums have been rotating for a time-say about ltwo hours-the water in the vat will be gradually heated by permitting steam to pass through the pipe 25,care being taken that the temperature of the liquor does not rise above 150O Fahrenheit, except whenhemlock-barkis being treated,when160 Fahrenheit is preferable. After the drums have been rotating four or five hours they will be stopped and the liquor drawn into any convenient tank to cool off. The inner drum will then be opened, the leached bark taken out, and the apparatus is ready for another leaching operation or for tanning of hides or skins. After the liquor has been cooled it is run back intotheleaching-vat,theinnerdrumtilledwith about one cord of fresh bark, the door closed. The prepared hides be placed in position,each with one end attached to hooks on the outer open drum. The hooks are located equidistant apart, and will accommodate thirty-two (more or less) whole hides. The hides need no coloring or handling, but can beplacedin the apparatus direct from the beam-house. The hides can be put directly over the hooks, one at each hind shank, or a string can be passed through a hole in the shanks and fastened to the hooks. The heads are allowed to hang down, and the hides hang one over another. When the hides have been properly placed in position, the apparatus will be set in motion and allowed to run for some hours-say from forty-eight to sixty hours, according to the weightandconditionofthehides. Sixtyhours will be sufficient to tan the heaviest steerhides into sole-leather. After the hides are taken off, ready for drying and iinishing, steam will be permitted to flow through the pipe in order to completely leach the bark in the inner drum.

In case the density of the liquor has diminished a quantity of new bark can be inserted into the inner drum.

Should it be desired to use part bark and part extract, the hides may be placed in the inner drum without any fastening and extract added to the leached liquor.

Rapid tanning in my improved apparatus has many advantages over previous drum processes Vof which I am aware on account of the safety of the hides at all times and the absolute control of temperature. This is made possible, as hereinbefore stated, by opening or closing the large doors in the ends of the hood surrounding the apparatus. In processes nowin use strong liquors are used, and strength can only be maintained by adding concentrated liquor or extracts to the original liquor, while I accomplish rapid tanning with liquors of same strength as used in old yard tannage and can tan with bark liquors alone without any addition of extracts at all. This is accomplished through the use of a large quantity of liquor, which will not run down in strength enough to prevent keeping the hides supplied with the necessary tanning material. The strength is easily maintained by running a quantity of fresh-ground bark Ioo to the inner drum while the hides are tanning between the inner and outer drums. Heaviest steer-hides are thus tanned within sixty hours.

l am enabled to use perfectly-cool liquors by leaving the doors of the hood open and the liquors need not be of any greater density than in ordinary yard tannage. I can use bark alone and need no extracts.

Slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise details herein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a leaching and tanning apparatus, the combination with a tank, of a perforated, rotatable leaching-drum and means exterior of and carried by said drum for supporting hides.

In a leaching and tanning apparatus, the combination with a tank, of a perforated, rotatable leaching-drum, means exterior of and carried by said drum for supporting hides, and a hood mounted on the tank and inclosing said drum and hide-supporting means.

In a leaching and tanning apparatus, the combination with a tank, of a perforated, rotatable leaching-drum, means exterior of and carried by said drum for supporting hides, a hood mounted on the tank and inclosing said drum and hide-suppoitings,` means, means for heating the contents of the tank and means for controlling the temperature of said contents.

4. The combination with a vat, of a drum having perforated walls, means for rotating said drum through iiuid in the vat, and means exterior of aud carried by said drum for supporting hides to be drawn through the fiuid in the tank.

The combination with a vat, of devices mounted therein for leaching bark,and means located eXteriorly of and carried by said devices for drawing hides through the liquor in the vat resulting from the operation of said leaching devices.

6. The combination with a vat, of a closed perforated drum mounted therein for leaching bark, and a drum or frame carried by the leaching-drum for drawing hides through the liquor in the vat resulting from the leached bark.

7. The combination with a vat, of an open drum constructed to support hides, a closed perforated drum within and spaced from the open drum, and means for rotating said drums simultaneously through iiuid in the tank.

S. The combination with a vat, of a drum comprising a series of radiating arms, rims secured to said arms, slats connecting said rims, pins projecting inwardly from said slats and wire-gauze closing the spaces between the slats and between the radiating arms, and means for rotating said drum.

9. The combination with a vat, of two series of radiating arms, a disk connecting the inner ends of the arms of each series, gudgeons projecting from said disks and mounted on the vat, two concentric rims secured to each series of radiating arms, slats connecting Jthe rims of each pair, hooks on the outer rims, wire-gauze closing the spaces between the slats connecting the inner rims and means for rotating said devices.

l0. The combination with a vat, of two concentric drums mounted therein and rotatable together, wire-gauze constituting walls of the inner drum, gudgeons secured to said concentric drums, a large gear secured to one of said gudgeons, a pinion for transmitting motion to said gear, and means for transmitting motion to said pinion.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES M. WALTER.

Witnesses:

A. C. H. J oHNsroNn, C. B. WILLIAMS. 

